Monitor Computer Systems and Facewatch partner to deliver facial recognition to the Sentinel security monitoring system

A ground-breaking new technology partnership between the two-leading business in security monitoring and facial recognition has enabled them to offer the security industry an integrated solution focused on improving workplace security.

Sentinel is already the leading supplier of alarm monitoring systems to the UK market with currently around 600,000 live signalling systems which are monitored to the relevant British, European and US standards with software provided by Monitor Computer System.

Facewatch is the leading GDPR compliant facial recognition system for the retail business and hospitality sectors and the partnership creates a seamless integration allowing monitoring stations to receive alerts from the Facewatch system and activate a series of responses including automatic audio announcements to alert a ‘subject of interest’ that they have been detected and remotely manage the incident through their video links to customer premises.

Michael Askew, CEO, Monitor Computer Systems said:

“Profit margins in retail are so tight that losses from theft can undermine the viability of stores. The Facewatch facial recognition system provides a means of preventing shoplifting before it happens, resulting in significant loss reduction. By immediately alerting store managers and security guards of the entrance of a suspicious person, a low-key response can deter would-be thieves. Where staff are unable to respond to potential theft or anti-social behaviour, the Facewatch system can transmit notifications to a Sentinel alarm receiving centre, where the operators can respond by issuing audible warnings over the store PA system. Eight ‘Til Late stores can gain particular benefit from this remote protection service during the hours when managers are not present and staff are particularly vulnerable. We believe that this combination of Facewatch and Sentinel technologies will be a big step forward in the fight against crime.”

Nick Fisher, CEO, Facewatch Ltd added:

“Facial recognition is fast becoming the ‘go to crime deterrent’ for the retail sector and as we come out of lockdown and enter a tough period of high unemployment and a long recession crime and anti-social behaviour, which is already showing a huge spike, will only get worse. It is therefore incredibly timely that we have been able to partner with Michael and his team to deliver the integration upgrade now. It will continue to ensure Sentinel is the leading monitoring software available. The Facewatch/Sentinel integration can be installed at a customer’s premises in less than a day by any Facewatch accredited partner and automatically links to the customers designated monitoring station. It’s a ground-breaking solution”.

Background:

Monitor Computer Systems

Monitor Computer Systems Ltd. has been a premier supplier of alarm monitoring systems to the UK market and abroad since its founding in 1984. Our customers include major security companies, local authorities, telecoms companies, financial institutions, and police authorities.

Monitor Computer Systems is privately owned, fully independent and not part of any larger organization.

Currently around 600,000 live signalling systems are monitored to the relevant
British, European and US standards with software provided by Monitor Computer Systems. Our objective is to provide resilient, advanced technology systems which will enable our customers to meet their market demands profitably. Our customers enjoy support contracts that guarantee conformance to all current and future standards at no extra charge.

In September 2002, Sentinel was granted UL 1981 approval for use in the US. We also have customers in Canada, Portugal, France, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Holland, Greece and Ireland.
https://www.monitorsoft.com/

Facewatch

Facewatch have been providing crime prevention solutions to the retail industry for over 10 years. The company launched the first ever online crime reporting system including CCTV footage in 2012 and this led to the launch of the first ever GDPR compliant facial recognition solution for the retail sector in 2019. The system enables stores to deter habitual criminals who shop lift, abuse workers, or cause criminal damage. Managers are alerted instantly by an app on their mobile phones, from AFR cameras positioned at entrances, the moment a subject of interest enters their premises.

Today the Facewatch system provides a GDPR compliant solution that is easy to install, can be used and managed by small stores and is scalable for use by large retail groups due to its unique cloud-based servers and edge Intel® NUC mini PCs.
Data is managed securely by Facewatch. Facewatch doesn’t store information about the general public, just those for whom their retailer subscribers have uploaded confirmed evidence of reasonably suspected criminal activity. If a facial image is not matched to a relevant watch list the algorithmic data is instantly deleted.
www.facewatch.co.uk